Partition assembly machine



July` 14, 1959 c. PETERS ETAL l 2,894,433I

PARTITION ASSEMBLY MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l wmv /ISv IIJ mm @l C NN uw omx Q QN A@ n@ IKW w vw N R wk l Q O w. .S u o v. N \\|Him l vu m Nm d u.mmv\ @lum Fmr/0 fraw cf/fsrfe P57525 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet2 July 14, 1959 c. PETERS ETAL PARTITION ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed JuIy 16,1957 Q L Q vw uw A i9. N Y S Q uw wm. mv I) IJ A .SL A H, \w.. WW mm n umm S NQ V mm, mm, mm Qmv o. m@ wm, 6, Q a I a wfwl 3MB mm aiw. QI w QW OV\. O a v @i IPI JJ .n.9 T Q R Sv a a a l f /mmv f m QN TE /B NN L a, Rt .o YM

ATTORNEYS..

July 14, 1959 c. PETERS ET AL PARTITIONA ASSEMBLY MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet5 Filed July 16, 1957 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United States Patent O ice2,894,433 PARTITION ASSEMBLY MACHINE Chester Peters and Floyd B.Seybold, Okmulgee, Okla. Application July 16, 1957, Serial No. 672,273

6 Claims. (Cl. 9.3-3S) ThisV inventionl relates to a partition assemblyor nesting machine, and more particularly to such a device for theassembly of partitions of corrugated board or the like, adaptedV forinsertion into boxes or similar containers for the separation of theboxes into compartments. ,l Y

A primaryobject of this inventionis the provision of animprovedpartition assembly device characterized by a rotatable table carrying aplurality of partition nesting iinger yassemblies and a plurality ofspaced magazine units carrying partition blanks, together with feedermechanism, so `arranged as to be entirely `automatic in operation,whereby -a complete partition is -assembled upon one complete rotationof the table.

A further important object of the invention is the provision fof such adevice which will be substantially entirely automatic in operation,completely to obviate the necessity-of manualfadjustment or manipulationin the nesting and I'assembly of partitions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a devicecharacterized by a multiplicity of stations', whereby a multiplicity ofpartition nesting operations may be carried out on separate partitionssimultaneously.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthis character having magazine and feeding units, which may be adjustedboth laterallyand vertically,1for the purpose of centering the positionsexactly relative to the nesting lingers of the partitions assembly head,or relative to other partitions carried thereby.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a devicehaving automatic mechanism for ejecting the assembled partition into astorage receptacle, or to a `conveyor belt, or the like.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device oflthis character which will be sturdy and durable in construction,reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively, simple 'andinexpensive to manufacture, assemble and utilize. p

Other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements ofparts,'and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointedout hereinafter, and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein there isdisclosed a preferred embodimentv of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view, partially broken away, of one form ofapparatus embodying features of the instant inventive concept. t

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 2-2 ofFigure l as viewed in the direction by the arrows, disclosing in frontelevation one of the magazine and feeder units.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along theline 3--3 of Figure 1 a-s viewed in the direction indicated by thearows.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of one of the ypartiOH holding,assembly "heads, er taken substantially 2,894,433 Patented July 14, 1959along the line 4 4 of Figure l as viewed in the direction indicated bythe arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 5-5 IofFigure 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 ofFigure 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 7-7 of Figure 3 as viewed in the direction indicated byIthe arrows.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken' substantially along the line 8 8 ofFigure 3 `as viewed Iin the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 9 is an end view partially in elevation and partially in section,disclosing a partition in various stages of assembly, certain concealedelements thereof being indicated in dotted lines.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Having reference now to lthe drawings in detail and more particularly toFigures-1 and 2 there is generally indicated `at 10 a rotatable table,having a top surface 11, suitably mounted for rotation on a central axle12, and carried by supporting legs 13. The table is adapted to berotated in step by step manner by means of a conventional Geneva drive,which includes fa Geneva rotating gear or'rotator 14, and a Geneva drivemember 15, the latter being actuated in any desired conventional manner,as by a suitable motor 'or the like.

The top surface 11 of table 10 carries a plurality of partition holdinghead assemblies, each generally indicated -at 16, and each comprised `ofa 4tubular cylinder 17, supported adjacent its ends in mounting bracket18.

Each cylinder 17 is closed at its inner end by an apertu-red partition19, `and at its outer end by a bushing or sleeve 20, lthe latter beingrotatably mounted, and carrying a collar 21, provided with `a pair ofdiametrically disposed radial arms 22.

A piston rod 23 extends through the entire length of cylinder 17, andcarries a head 24, at its inner end, A coil spring 25 may surround thepiston rod nteriorly of the cylinder 16, and biases, by its engagementwith a cross head 26 pinned to the piston rod 23, the rod inwardlyrelative to the rotary table top 11. Alternatively, the cylinder may beactuated in either direction by the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. Theouter end of the piston rod 23 extends through a central aperture in aplate 26, iixedly secured in the sleeve 20, which plate carries, on itsouter face, as best shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, a plurality of atfingers 30, each having an outwardly tapered extremity 31, and a rightangularly bent inner portion, apertured to receive a bolt 32. Aplurality of cylindrical iingers 33, each having its outer or free eX-tremity tapered as at 34 are also carried by the plate 26, and aresecured in position in overlying relation with the ends 31 of themembers 30 as by means of nuts 35 carried by bolts 32. The fingers 30and 33 are arranged, as best shown in Figure 4 in spaced groups, andcomprise partition holding elements. Each iinger 30 overlies one of apair of fingers 33, the other of each pair being spaced laterallytherefrom, to hold, as shown in Figure 4, transverse partition elements36, and vertical partition elements 37, the partition elements beinginserted individually and at separate times, and nested, in a manner tobe more fully described hereinafter The `sleeve 20 may be rotated, bymeans of the arms 22 through an arc of ninety degrees in either aclockwise or counter clockwise direction, in a manner and for a purposeto be more fully described hereinafter, and

l stop means are provided for limitingthe rotation to substantiallyexactly ninety degrees. Such stop means take the form of a collar 40, asbest shown in Figure 7, provided with lugs 41 and 42 spacedsubstantially ninety degrees apart, and coaxial with the cylinder 17,and the piston rod or shaft 23. The lugs are adapted selectively toenage a stop bar 43, which is held in position in a suitable recess intable top 11, as by means of a counter sunk screw 44 inserted from theunder side of the table.

The end of each piston rod 23 is secured by lock nuts 45 in a suitableaperture 46 in the transverse bar 47 of an ejector grid, which includesa plurality of bars 48 secured in perpendicular relation to bar 47 as bymeans of rivets 49.

The table top 11 also has mounted thereover, in fixed position ahydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 50, provided internally with a suitablepiston (not shown) and having an outwardly extending piston rod 51carrying an operating head 52. The cylinder 50 is fixed on the top ofaxle 12, and retains its relative position, while the table top 11revolves therebeneath. The piston and cylinder 50 is actuated uponengagement with a selected one of heads 24 of rods 23, for the purposeof moving the ejector grid comprised of bars 47 and 48, in a manner andfor a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

Each of the units 16 hereinbefore described is substantially identical,and each has the outermost of its supporting brackets 18 positionedadjacent the rim of the table top 11. The units extend radially and areequidistantly spaced, and any desired number may be employed, althoughin the illustrative embodiment of the invention seven of the, units areshown.

A plurality of partition magazine and feeding units 60 are equdistantlyspaced peripherally of the rim of table 11. Each unit 68, comprises aframe including supporting legs 61., and horizontal channel bars 62extending transversely ofV the leg 61, from which in turn extendhorizontal channel b ars 631 which are connected to and supported bychannel bars 64 carried by the radially disposed legs 13 of thesupporting frame for the table top 1.1.

Extending transverselyV across and supported by the membersV 63, is aplate 65, which carries at its opposite ends a pair of angle irons 66,which in turn support uprights, 67'. Guide bolts and nuts 68 extendthrough the plate 65, and are adapted to ride along the inner side ofangle ironA supporting members 63, when the plate is linearly moved.,The member 62; is provided with a centralV aperture 69, through whichextends a threaded bolt 70, having an operating wheel 71 at one end, anda head or stop plate 72 at its other end. The bolt 70 extends through.a; threaded. aperture in a depending lug 73, secured as by means ofrivets 74 to the under side ofk plate 65. The arangement is such thatrotationl of the operating wheel 71 will, throughrotation ofbolt 70occasion linear movement of plate 65, and hence linear movement. ofuprights 67 toward and away from the partition holding unit comprised oftingersv3t) and 33, for a purpose and in aA manner to be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

Extending across the tops of the parallel uprights 67 is atransverseangle ironbar 75, whichis provided with av centrally positioned aperture76, for the accommodation of the threaded bolt.77, which has threadedthereon an operating wheel or handle 78. The lower end of bolt 77 issuitably securedto angle iron brackets 79, which are inrturn suitablysecured as by bolts or the like to a cross piece 80, comprising the topof amagazine frame generally indicated at 81. The frarne also includesside plates 82, and front angle iron plates 83, as-well as achannelshaped base plate, 84, havingl a centrally positioned elongatedslot 85therein. The base plate 84 extendsa substantial distance outwardlybeyond uprightsy 67, and has secured thereto the apertured end: cap 86ofpa hydraulic-cylinderV 87, the other end of which is closedby an endcap88. A piston 89 carrying a piston 4 rod 90 is movable within thecylinder 87, and hydraulic or pneumatic fluid for the forward andrearward movement of the piston 89 is supplied by lines 91 and 92equipped with manual valves 93 and 94 respectively.

The outer end of piston 90 is secured as by lock nuts 95 to a dependinglug 96, which extends through the slot 85, and is carried by the underside of feeder plate 97. The slot extends substantially to the forwardend of the frame assembly 81, and since the lug 96 is positioned at therear end of feeder plate 97, the plate 97 is adapted to project wellforwardly of the front of the frame assembly 81.

Extending between the side bars 82 at an intermediate point below thecross piece 80 is a transverse guide plate or sheet 98, from which apair of vertical strips 99 extend to a frame member 100, positioned aslight distance above plate 86, to provide a clearance for the forwardmovement of the feeder plate 97. Partitions 36 or 37, in accordance withthe position of the unit are stacked within the frame provided by thecross member 98 and its associated end plates 101, and the dependingplate members 99. These partitions are adapted to be loaded into themagazine structure manually as may be' necessary.

From the foregoing the operation of the device should now beunderstandable. Assuming the parts to be in the position as shown inFigure 1, the magazines of all of the units 60, which, for illustrativepurposes have been indicated as A. B C D and E, readingcounterclockwise, there being, in the illustrative embodiment shown veof the units 60, each of which is substantially identical as previouslydescribed, the operation of the mechanism is started, and by means ofthe Geneva movement.14 and 15, which is of any conventional design, therotatable table 10 is rotated by a stage of one unit. At this time allof the finger assembly heads are empty. The unit 16, as the initialstepin the operation is moved to a position confronting the unit A, it beingnoted that in this position the plate 26 is` in what may be termed ahorizontal position, or the position as indicated in Figure 4. As thedevice is moved into confronting relation, an automatic switch of anydesired conventional typev (not shown) is actuated to energize thecylinder of-87 of. unit A through line 91, to actuate its internalpiston 89 to move the slide 97 forwardly, whichl in turn moves one ofthe partitions 36 by virtue of the slot 85 intol position between thelower row of cylindrical lingers 3-3 and. their adjacent iiat fingers30, the arrangement being such that the slots in the partitions 36 areeach positioned between a pair of the fingers 33, the fingers 30, whichmay be resilient. serving to hold the parts in related assembly. Thenext movement of the Geneva movement will then move the assembly Fadjacent the unit B, which has ben adjusted, vertically, by means ofthe-hand wheelv 78 previously described to a higher level so that thesecond of partitions 36 is inserted between the upper row of fingers 30and 33, as shown in Figure 4. Tlie two partitions 36 are thus aligned inparallel relation, with their respective slots 36a correspondingly.aligned. Upon the next operation of the movement of theY Geneva movementthe member F is moved adjacent the unit C, but before moving intoposition adjacent thek unit C a stop. member located at a suitabledistance above the table, strikes one of the arms 22, which turns theentire head assembly, including the sleeve 20, and the plate 26 and itsassociated fingers 301 and'33 through an arc of ninety degrees, so thatthe hitherto described horizontal partitions members 36 are now arrangedvertically. This movement is completed before the head is alignedwith'the slide 97 of the unit C, and simultaneously the lowermost ofpartitions 37 is` pushed forwardly from the magazine by means 0f slideplate 97 into intersectingrelation'with the lowermost of the notches orslots 36a in the members 36. The next Geneva movement will juxtaposethehead'of the member ,'F to the unit D, which hasr been adjusted to alevel next above, and the'intermediate or central partition 37 is theninserted in its appropriate slots at the central portions of partitions36in the manner previously described. The next step of the movement tothe unit E which again is progressively spaced higher will cause theinsertion in the manner previously described of the last partition 37,and the 'assembly-is thus completed. The next step of the operation willcause the arm 22 to engage a stop member 106 substantially Hush with thetable top, which will turn the assembly back to its original position sothat the plate 36 is again horizontal, while the next step willjuxtapose the head 24 of the rod 23 to the piston rod head 52 of thepiston rod 51 carried in the fluid cylinder 50. The hydraulic orpneumatic cylinder 50 is actuated simultaneously by means of the switchpreviously described with each of the cylinders 87, so that uponjuxtaposition of the head 24 of unit F to the head 52 the piston ispressed forwardly, to move the piston rod forwardly, and hence move thegrid comprised of the bars 47 and 49 outwardly, to slide the assembledpartition 0H of the ngers 30 and 33 into a suitable receptacle, or ontothe conveyor belt, or the like, discharging the assembly from themechanism. It will thus be seen that one complete rotation of the unitcompletes the nesting and assembly of a five part partition, entirelyautomatically, and that this action is continued by the return of theassembly F to its original position. It is to be noted that when theunit F leaves its position confronting unit A the next successive unitmoves into position, so that while the unit B is operating on the unitF, the unit A is simultaneously operating on the next succeeding unitcounter clockwise of the table face. Thus during the actual operation ofthe device after the initial starting, each unit 60 is operatingsimultaneously to effect a different nesting operation on a partitionassembly, so that when the completed unit of unit F is ejected from theapparatus the unit immediately ahead of the unit F is Waiting for actionby the assembly A, while the next successive unit ahead of this is beingprovided with first of its partition elements. Thus six partition-s arecontinuously in various stages of assembly and nesting during theoperation of the device, so that each time a unit 16 is juxtaposed tothe piston head 52, a completed assembly is ejected from the apparatus.

The vertical adjustment may be provided with relatively great exactnessby means of the hand wheel 78, so that accurate nesting of partitions ofa given size may be assured, and similarly the transverse alignment ofthe unit 60 may be accurately gawged by means of the hand wheel 71, sothat the partitions are nested only to the exact required depth inaccordance With the slots in the respective partition units 36 and 37.

Obviously any desired number of units may be used, in accordance withthe type of partition it is desired to assemble, a larger number ofunits being employed for six piece or nine piece, or any desired numberof pieces of partitions.

The speed of the apparatus may be governed, the table being rotated fromany desired source of power, as by means of an `electric or gasolinemotor or the `like (not shown), and the automatic actuation of theseveral cylinders 87 and cylinder 50 simultaneously may be controlled byany type of automatic hydraulic valve.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided apartition assembly apparatus which accomplishes all of the objects ofthis invention, and others, including many advantages of great practicalutility, and commercial importance, 'which accomplishes all of theobjects of this invention, and others, including many advantages ofgreat practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in 6 the embodiment herein before shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

' We claim: v

1. In a partitionl nesting apparatus, the combination of a horizontallydisposed rotatable circular table, a plurality vofradially disposedpartition holding finger assemblies equidistantly spaced about theperiphery of said table, said assemblies each comprising a grid, and aplurality of groups of four closely positioned fingers extendingoutwardly from said grid, two of the fingers of each group comprisingrollers, and the other two fingers of each group comprising resilientstrips having their ends outwardly flared relative to said rollers, saidgrid being mounted on a centrally positioned shaft, said shaft beingrotatably mounted on said table means for rotating said table in step bystep progression, a plurality of partition magazine and partitionfeeding units equidistantly positioned radially about the periphery ofat least a portion of said table, said units being spaced from the rimof said table and means for moving a partition from said unit to anadjacent finger assembly when said assembly is juxtaposed in confrontingrelation to said unit.

2. In a partition nesting apparatus, the combination of a horizontallydisposed rotatable circular table, a plurality of radially disposedpartition holding finger assemblies equidistantly spaced about theperiphery of said table, said assemblies each comprising a grid, and aplurality of groups of four closely positioned fingers extendingoutwardly from said grid, two of the fingers of each group comprisingrollers, and the other two fingers of each group comprising resilientstrips having their ends outwardly flared relative to said rollers, saidgrid being mounted on a centrally positioned shaft, said shaft beingrotatably mounted on said table means for rotating said tabie in step bystep progression, a plurality of partition magazine and partitionfeeding units equidistantly positioned radially about the periphery ofat least a portion of said table, said units being spaced from the rimof said table means for moving a partition from said unit to an adjacentfinger assembly when said assembly is juxtaposed in confronting relationto said unit, and means positioned adjacent said table for ejecting anassembled partition from its associated finger assembly upon completion.

3. In a partition nesting apparatus, the combination of a horizontallydisposed rotatable circular table, a plurality of radially disposedpartition holding finger assemblies equidistantly spaced about theperiphery of said table, said assemblies each comprising a grid, and aplurality of groups of four closely positioned fingers extendingoutwardly from said grid, two of the fingers of each group comprisingrollers, and the other two fingers of each group comprising resilientstrips having their ends outwardly flared relative to said rollers, saidgrid being mounted on a centrally positioned shaft, said shaft beingrotatably mounted on said table means for rotating said table in step bystep progression, a plurality of partition magazine and partitionfeeding Iunits equidistantly positioned radially about the periphery ofat least a portion of said table, said units being spaced from the rimof said table means for moving a partition from said unit to an adjacentfinger assembly when said assembly is juxtaposed in confrontingrelationto said unit, means positioned adjacent said table for ejecting anassembled partition from its associated finger assembly upon completion,and means for synchronizing the step by step rotation of said table withthe actuation of feeding units and the actuation of the ejector means.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein said units each includes a frame forholding stacked partition elements, a plate slidable towards said tablefor ejecting the bottom partition element, and a iiuid actuated cylinderfor moving said plate.

5. The "stnucture of claim 5 wherein means are provided for rotatingsaid partition holding finger .assemblies ythrough anarefofminetydegreesin a `verticahplane at-predetennined points during=the horizontalrotation of said table for juxtaposition to a unit in a selected`position.

6. .The structure ofclairn 5 Whereinthe'ejectormeans comprises aslidable .grid .adjacent said Yrst mentioned grid and afluid actuatedcylinder fonmoving saidtslidable grid toward fthelperiphery of saidtable to ldsengage the assembled Jpartition Lfrom :said -nger assembly.

References Cited fin :the iler of Athis gpatent Baken-etal. :Apr. x27,A19,54

